One of the most common problems your baby might experience is constipation. It is a common problem in primary care, accounting for approximately 3% to 5% of all office visits and 10% to 25% of all pediatric gastroenterology referrals. Constipation is one of the ten most frequent problems that a general pediatrician deals with. In most cases, constipation in babies has no underlying medical condition.
However, this disturbance should not be ignored as it may lead to long-lasting and painful poop movement for your baby.
There are a few signs to recognize if your baby suffers from constipation:
- Positions change to avoid or delay having a bowel movement
- Swollen abdomen or bloating
- Day or night time wetting
- Irritability and decreased appetite
- Strange faces as if he is in pain each time he passes a poop
Your child most often gets constipated from holding back or withholding poop. They can also be constipated during illness where there is a loss of appetite or dietary change involved. Any changes in your child's routine may also affect their bowel movements. This happens also due to a low-fibre diet and lack of sufficient fluids.
IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS THAT MIGHT HELP RELIEVE YOUR CHILD FROM CONSTIPATION
If the baby has constipation then visiting a doctor who will probably advise the mother to continue breastfeeding. If babies are not breastfed then the doctor will recommend a formula that contains some of the below ingredients:
Also, if toddlers have constipation then introducing a high fiber diet will be one of the highly recommended ideas for constipation management
PARTIALLY HYDROLIZED WHEY PROTEINS
Whey protein forms softer and more flocculent curds, which are easy to digest. Research tells us that infants fed hydrolyzed whey formula have softer stools compared to those fed intact cow's milk based formula.
SPECIFIC PROBIOTICS
(such as L. reuteri DSM17938)
Good gut bugs help in increasing regularity and improve poop consistency among children with constipation.
MAGNESIUM
Known to soften stools.